WIVES OF DAIRY FARM WORKERS

Evening Star, Issue 22463, 7 October 1936, Page 7

WIVES OF DAIRY FARM WORKERS

COMPUTATION OF WAGES MINISTER CLEARS MISUNDERSTANDING [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October 6. The Minister of Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong), in an interview to-day, said that a misunderstanding existed as to the effect of the Agricultural Workers Act upon the wives of dairy farm employees, and the employment of married couples might be prejudiced if the matter were not explained. The Act laid down a minimum wage of £2 2s fid a week plus board and lodging for a dairy farm worker. If free board and lodging were not provided he was entitled to £3 a week. In cases where the worker was married and be and his wife were engaged as a married couple with free house and foodstuffs, free house and foodstuffs were not regarded as “ free board and longing,” under the Act, and could not be taken into account as part of a worker’s wages. The statutory wage and holidays applied definitely to the husband and not necessarily to the wife. The situation of the wife was governed by the nature of her work, if any, for the farmer. If she was engaged wholly on farm work, she too was entitled to the statutory wage and holidays. If she performed in the main only domestic duties, and merely assisted for brief periods daily in the farm work, she should be paid in respect of the latter duties a due proportion of the statutory wage. It was admissible in computing a wife’s payment of this proportion to take into account the rent value of the free house and the value of anything else the farmer provided. If the wife was engaged on only domestic duties she was not subject to the legislation. Employers and employees were recommended to submit to the nearest branch of tho Labour Department particulars

of cases in which they were concerned, and which they considered required individual consideration. Farmers, particularly, wore requested not to terminate the engagement of married couples until they made sure from the department that their own or their employees’ estimate of the new wages due was the correct one. Farmers need not fear precipitate action by the department to institute proceedings. The department would endeavour to meet each case reasonably, and was instructing inspectors to treat each case on its merits. ■A